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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	beast_n	horn_n	lamb_n	2,802	5	9.9628	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07226	A revelation of the Revelation wherein is contayned, a most true, plaine, and briefe manifestation of the meaning and scope of all the Reuelation, and of euery mystery of the same : whereby the pope is most plainely declared and proued to bee Antichrist / by Thomas Mason ...	Mason, Thomas, 1580-1619?	1619 (1619)	STC 17623; ESTC S1299	31,570	120

A REVELATION OF THE REVELATION Wherein is contayned a most true plaine and briefe manifestation of the meaning and scope of all the Reuelation and of euery Mystery of the same Whereby the Pope is most plainely declared and proued to bee Antichrist BY THOMAS MASON Preacher of the word of God at Odyham in the County of South Printed at London by G. Eld. 1619. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY KING IAMES by the especiall Grace of God of Great Britaine France and Ireland King and in all causes whether Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill next vnder CHRIST supreme Head and a most faithfull Defender of the true Catholique and Apostolique Faith in all his Realmes and Dominions Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed Most Excellent Soueraigne HAuing attained vnto some certaintie of the scope and meaning of the Reuelation and of the Mysteries thereof by earnest prayer pervsing of Expositors and conference of the Prophesies therof with the Ecclesiasticall Histories and being desirous to inlighten others I haue cōpiled in as briefe and easie manner as I could deuise the true scope and meaning of the same and of euery Mysterie thereof And being well assured that as God gaue vnto the Kingly Prophet Dauid a rich measure of his Spirit so he hath bequeathed vnto your Highnesse most abundantly his holy Ghost so that none more knoweth the minde of Christ then you Maiesty doth Which imboldened me to dedicate this my Worke vnto your Highnesse most humbly crauing that this little shew of my dutifull loue vnto your Maiestie may obtaine pardon for my too much boldnesse so as it is my bounden dutie I will neuer cease to offer vppe supplications vnto God and vnto Iesus Christ for the dewe of his Spirit to be daily distilled into your Royall heart for your direction and that God would alwayes charge his holy Angels for the preseruation of your Maiesties person and of our most gracious Queene our most Royall Prince and all your Highnesse Kingly Progenie Your Maiesties most faithfull and dutifull Subiect THOMAS MASON THE EPISTLE to the Reader FOr the better vnderstanding of the Reuelation Christian Reader I would haue thee to obserue in the three first Chapters the then present estate of the seauen Churches and in the fourth and fifth Chapters the vision of Saint Iohn in Heauen in what manner hee receiued the generall Reuelation from Christs ascension vntill his comming vnto iudgement in the sixt and seauenth Chapters the estate of the Church vnder the Idolatrous Emperours vntill the Christian Emperour Constantine his time and the flourishing of the estate thereof by him and in the eighth ninth and tenth Chapters the estate of the Church vnder the Emperors that were after Constantine and the Popes how men became as cold as hayle in true Religion and as hot as fire to maintaine superstitions to the shedding of blood and how the Emperours signified by the great Mountaine tooke part with the superstitious with a burning zeale persecuting those that would not consent to their superstitions The great Starre that fell from Heauen as bitter as worme-wood was the falling of the Bishop of Rome from Christ and his word to mainetaine superstitions and for that purpose was exalted of the Emperours aboue all other Bishops The second Starre is the Popes which exalted themselues aboue all the Emperours and Kings and filled the world with their mighty Locusts that is Cardinalls Popish Bishops and their officers Abbots Friers and such like and when these were multiplied as the sands of the sea the Diuell that was bound for a thousand yeares from Constantine his time is let loose obtaineth these innumerable company of Locusts to take his part and persecuted the Saints by these Antichristian Locusts martyred more then euer hee did by the idolatrous Emperours yet Christ and his Saints obtaine the victory And from the beginning of the eleuenth Chapter vnto the end of the Booke are prophesied againe the very same things of Antichrist but much more largely and with other similitudes In the eleuenth Chapter the superstitious are called the Courts and the faithfull the temple and Saint Iohn is commanded not to mete the Courts but to cast them out and it is prophesied that they shall tread the holy Citty which is the faithfull vnder their feete 1260. yeares In the twelfth Chapter the Emperours which before are called a great mountaine are heere called a great red Dragon and are prophesied to be they which shall be the greatest cause of the treading vnder foote the Children of God all this time of the 1260. yeares In the thirteenth Chapter the Popes that were called two Starres before are called two beasts the first Beast the Emperours shall set aboue all other Bishops of purpose to maintaine superstitions and to tread the faithfull vnder their feete all the said time of 1260. yeares and for this purpose the Dragon shall giue him his power and authority The second Beast which had two hornes like the Lambe is the second Starre as before which is the Pope when hee tooke vpon him not onely to bee the whole ruler in spirituall matters but to bee King of all Kings as Christ is and exalted himselfe aboue the Emperours All the other Chaptors vnto the end declare the manner of the destruction of Antichrist and of Rome and the flourishing of the Gospell after Rome shall be destroyed vntill Christs comming to iudgement As Christ foretolde the destruction of Ieausalem and truely at his time appointed performed it so surely bath Christ Prophesied and as truely in his time will accomplish the destruction of Rome and as a whole yeare before the destruction of Ierusalem there was seene an extraordinary Blazing Starre so the Blazing Starre that now so strangely appeareth seemeth to manifest Gods fiery indignation against Rome which shall shortly destroy it and to bee a forewarning vnto all men that they flye from her false Doctrines lest they be pertakers of her punishments and that all Kings and the Children of God should haue their hearts inflamed like the flaming Starre against that abhominable Strumpet to gather themselues to battell against her and burne her with fire And because euery one of Gods Children must claime by a liuely faith as perticular vnto himselfe all the generall promises of Christ so we ought to apply the generall iudgements of God euery one vnto his owne soule Let vs therefore examine our hearts whether wee retaine there any Poposh superstition or sinne against any of Gods commandements vnrepented of for against such that will not repent the Lords anger burneth like the blazing Starre But if wee flie by true repentance and a liuely faith and catch hold of the blood of Iesus Christ to wash away our sinnes and of his righteousnesse to couer our imperfections then may wee with ioy looke vpon this blazing Starre and prayse God for declaring his fierce wrath against Antichrist and sinners and for hastening to reuenge the blood of his Saints and that the time

bee no interruption of the preaching thereof and that the Lord will hinder and punish such as offer to hinder and will not obey it CHAP. 12. AS in the eighth Chapter is a vision of a great Mountaine that fell burning into the Sea which there is interpreted to bee the Emperour taking the part of the superstitious Romanes against the faithfull in Christ Heere the Emperour is called a great red Dragon which sheweth the fiercenesse of his persecution against Gods Children for resisting superstitions The woman that was cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone vnder her feet and vpon her head a Crowne of twelue starres sheweth the flourishing estate of the Church by Constantine the Gospell shined from them as the Sun and Moone and the testimony of the twelue Apostles was their Crowne and reioycing and as twelue starres to direct them her trauelling with child was the increase of the faithfull which the Dragon the Emperour sought by all meanes to deuoure they are called a Man child because Christ the Man-child and they are but all one their taking vp into Heauen sheweth their preseruation of God In that it is saide they shall rule the Nations with a rodde of Iron it is because Christ their head shall doe so for them The Dragons Taile that drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth his taile signifieth his edicts and the executioners therof the starres are the faithfull Children of God which shine like starres in respect of Infidells the third part signifieth all the Popes iurisdiction for he neuer had dominion but in the third part of the World and the Heauen heere is the Church I leaue the interpretation of his 7. heads and ten hornes vnto the 17. Chapter where the Angell interprets them The flying of the woman into the wildernes sheweth what feare the faithfull were put in that they were faine to haue priuate meetings as if it were in a wildernes and this continued 1260. yeares concerning the battell in Heauen Michael and his Angells are Christ and his Preachers against the Diuell and Papists his Soldiers and Christ and his Children gatte the victory in the end and Christ and his shall raigne in inspeakeable glory when as the Diuell and all that tooke his part in resisting the Gospell shall inherit eternall paine and torments When this victory was Saint Iohn heard a loud voyce saying Now is Saluation in Heauen that is the Church and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe there was neuer any that so falsly accused the faithfull as the Papists haue and still doe like vnto the Diuell their Captaine which accuseth vs day and night before God but they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony and they loued not their liues vnto death this certifieth vs who were Christs Angells that fought against the Diuell Reioyce yee Heauens and they that dwell therein meaning the faithfull in the true Church woe to the Inhabitants of the earth and and sea The earth is often interpreted great men and the sea the common people meaning carnall men for the Diuell is come downe vnto you hauing great wrath knowing he hath but a short time this is since the 1000. yeares that the Diuell is let loose When the Dragon saw that hee was cast into the earth that is ouercome hee persecuted the woman but God preserued her as an Eagle saueth her selfe with flying aloft and as one that saueth himselfe by hiding in the wildernes and the Dragon cast out water after the woman like a flood that he might carry her away but the earth helped the woman that is God prouided men of the earth euer all this 1260. yeares to defend and succour his children by the Dragon is meant not only the Emperours but the Popes for since the Emperors power decaid the Popes were as Emperours Then the Dragon made warre with the seed of the woman which keepe the Commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ these are the warres that long haue beene and now are betwixt the Papists and the Protestants CHAP. 13. THe two Beasts in the Prophesies of this Chapter are the two starres that the Prophesies are of in the 8. and 9. Chapters and both set out vnto vs the Popes The first Beast is said to arise out of the Sea that is from amongst the lower sort of men which is when Phocas had slaine his Maister Mauritius the Emperour all his Children and made himselfe Emperour he gaue Boniface Bishop of Rome preheminence to be highest aboue all other Bishops and sole ruler of them In that he is said to haue seauen heads and tenne hornes with Crownes vpon them the reason is set downe in the second verse because the Dragon gaue him his vertue and his throne and his great power to enable him to fight against the Children of God In that there was set vpon his head the name of blasphemie is because the Pope taketh to himselfe that which onely belongeth to Christ to haue all power in Heauen and Earth and whatsoeuer prerogatiue the Scripture attributeth to Christ the Pope most blasphemously taketh to himselfe In that he is like the Leopard no Beast is so beautifully spotted as the Leopard is so no Emperour or King was euer so richly or gloriously decked with gold and precious stones as the Popes haue beene In that his clawes are like the clawes of a Beare which hath the strongest pawes of all Beasts to catch and to hold withall it sheweth that neuer any Emperour or any else hath been such an exactor of the riches of all Lands as the Popes haue beene as Ecclesiasticall Histories make mention In that his mouth was as the mouth of a Lyon it sheweth his tyranny cruelty and mercilesnes in deuouring Gods children and well may the holy Ghost stile him a Beast that hath these beastly qualities his head that was wounded to death was the Emperour when Mauritius and his Children were slaine But Hiraclius the Emperour killed Phocas that slew them and restored the Empire againe And the superstitious gloried in the Pope being made so great by the Emperour and worshipped the Dragon that gaue power vnto him and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like vnto the Beast Who is able to warre with him And the Beast blasphemed God and his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in Heauen that is his faithfull Children and hee warred against the Saints and ouercame them and power was giuen him ouer euery Kingdome and tongue and Nation therefore all that are in the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Booke of life But heere is the benefit of the patience and faith of Saints if any lead into Captiuity he shall be led into Captiuity and whosoeuer killed them by the sword shall bee killed by the sword This second Beast

is the second starre in the ninth Chapter which is Hildebrand which ioyned the supremacie vnto the Popedome that is temporall iurisdiction ouer the Emperour and the ten Kings to place them and displace them at his pleasure which is manifested in that hee is said to haue two hornes like the Lambe Christ that is to bee King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as Ruler ouer soules Whereas his Predecessors had the Emperours power and iurisdiction but by permission and fauour hee and his Successors claymed the supremacie of duty giuen vnto them of God alleadging all those places of Scriptures which declareth what supremacie God hath giuen vnto Christ ouer all in heauen and earth for his proofes thereof and so made the image of the first Beast that is like as the first beast had the power of the Emperour but in fauour hee annexed the power and supremacie aboue all Emperours and Kings as an appertinent and duty vnto the Popedome for euer and he spake as presumptuously as the Dragon did execute his power in the Emperors sight that is as not hauing his power from him but from God This Beast did great signes so that hee made fire to descend vpon earth in the sight of men but these signes were done by Nigromancy wherefore after Pope Hildebrand was condēned by a general Councell and for coniuration and dealing with the Diuell many other grieuous offences hee was by the said Councell depriued from being Pope but his Successors vnto this day still maintaine the doctrine of his vsurped Supremacie ouer all Princes And this Beast made a law that whosoeuer would not worship the Image of the Beast should bee slaine The number of the beasts name is 666. this is to shew that at that time the first beast beganne to corrupt the Church with superstitions and false doctrines as is declared in Chap. 8. of the first Starre In that in the fift verse of this Chapter there is a mouth giuen vnto the beast to speak blasphemies 42. moneths which is interpreted Chap. 11. to be 1260. yeares so that iust this time was appointed vnto the People Emperour and Pope and it sheweth that they all this time ioyned together to tread downe the holy Citie the true Church all this while CHAP. 14. NOw Antichrist is reuealed in such liuely colours that none except the diuell blinde his eyes but may see the Pope to bee Antichrist now in this Chapter begins to be declared his destruction Christs standing vpon mount Sion signifieth his presence with his children the 144000. that were with him which were sealed in the 7. Chapter a certaine number for an innumerable number declaring that all the Saints who all this time of 1260. yeares were martyred or persecuted by Antichrist were with him in glory and none of them lost In that the sound of their voices was like the roaring of many waters and like thunder it declareth what a multitude of them there be In that they played vpon harps and sung a new song which none could learne but themselues their harping sheweth how ioyfully they praised God that none can sing such new songs and so much praise God as those which haue suffered for standing faithfully in the truth and haue beene deliuered In that they are commended for not being defiled with women it is not onely meant of their bodily chastity but also of their spirituall chastitie in that Antichrist had not made them commit spirituall fornication by following his idolatrous doctrines but they were virgins that did onely cleaue vnto their Spouse Christ and his word In their mouthes was found no guile they taught onely the truth they were without spot before the throne of God that is in the righteousnesse of Christ Now the 1260. yeares of Antichrist appeare plainely to bee finished in that the Gospell doth so plentifully flourish and in that wee see Christ vpon mount Sion that is defending his Church And here wee haue a promise that this shall be an euerlasting Gospell that is to indure vnto Christs comming as which so great a grace was neuer shewed vnto former ages therfore the Angell that brings vs these glad tidings exhorts vs to feare God giue glory vnto him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heauen and earth and the fountaines of water Then is prophesied that Rome shall bee destroyed called by the name of great Babylon because as the Babylonians destroyed the materiall Temple so haue they of Rome the spirituall Temple the faithfull the cause of her destruction followeth Because shee hath made drunken all nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications that is of her idolatrous and false doctrine Therefore there followes a warning that whosoeuer shall worship the Image of the Beast that is the Pope and receiue the print of his name that is make holinesse in crossing himselfe and in other superstitions hee shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and bee tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoake of their torments shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night In that the destruction of Antichrist followeth the preaching of the Gospell it declareth that by it Antichrist shall bee destroyed and that the suppression of the preaching of the word was the cause of the growth of it and therefore it is that the diuell puts into the heads of Papists to keepe all people from the reading hearing and preaching of Gods word The voyce from heauen that bad Iohn write Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them ought to incourage vs to preach the Gospell to the beating downe of Antichrist though we suffer neuer so much for our labour After the fall of Antichrist by the preaching of the Gospell and that the Lord hath fulfilled the number of the elect then shall Christ come vpon a white cloud wearing a golden crowne in his hand a sickle and because the haruest of the earth is ripe heeshall thrust in his sickle and the earth shall be reaped that is by an allusion to husbandmen in haruest is declared how Christ shall gather his Saints to him into heauen And by the Angell that with a sharp sickle cut vp the vineyards of the earth because her grapes were ripe and cast them into the great winepresse of the wrath of God the winepresse was trodden without the Citie the bloud or wine of the grapes was vnto the horse bridles by the space of 1600. furlongs By an allusion to grape-gatherers is declared how Gods Angels shall cast the reprobate into eternall torments and in that the winepresse is without the Citie it sheweth that the place of the damned shall be separated from the Elect and in that there was such plenty of grapes that the wine or bloud of them was vp to the horses bridles that trode